Agricultural Composition With PH Colour Indicators

Abstract

The present invention provides a concentrate for dilution with water in the preparation of an agricultural composition for application to crops, soil or animals. The concentrate is recommended for use with agricultural chemicals whose agricultural activity varies with the pH of the water. It comprises an active ingredient and a combination of pH indicators for colouring the water, the pH indicators being selected so as to indicate different colours of spray water at different pH levels. The proportions of active ingredient and pH indicators are selected so that when the concentrate is added to water, the pH indicators indicate visually upper and lower pH limits for optimum activity of the agricultural chemical.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates, broadly, to agricultural compositions. More particularly, it relates to a concentrate for dilution with water in the preparation of an agricultural composition, which concentrate is recommended for use with agricultural chemicals whose agricultural activity varies with the pH of the water.[0002]Activity of the majority of agricultural chemicals varies with the pH of the water in which it is diluted in that they are sensitive to degradation under alkaline (high pH) or acidic (low pH) conditions. Very often the water that farmers use from boreholes, dams or rivers has a high pH and salt content (i.e. hard water), and is also influenced by seasonal changes and annual rainfall. This water tends to have a negative influence on the efficacy of pH sensitive agricultural chemicals in that the agricultural chemicals are hydrolysed to less active compounds. In these cases, the farmer or other user typically modifies pH of the water by a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]The concentrate typically includes one or more wetting, spreading, adhesive or penetrating agents to provide improved leaf coverage, adhesion and penetration of a spray mixture including the concentrate, the correct quantity of wetting and other agents being indicated by the respective pH indicator.

Problems solved by technology

This water tends to have a negative influence on the efficacy of pH sensitive agricultural chemicals in that the agricultural chemicals are hydrolysed to less active compounds.

This involves making use of pH meters and pH indicator papers, which is a tedious operation.

In addition, pH meters are very bulky, expensive, sensitive to transport and may be damaged during field use, whereas pH strips have a short shelf-life and become unreliable with varying temperatures, which are typical of field conditions.

However, if the user is not careful there is a danger of overdosing when using this concentrate.

This may result in a spray mixture in which the pH of the water is no longer optimum for the particular agricultural chemical.